U.S. patent number 9,957,656 [Application Number 15/048,652] was granted by the patent office on 2018-05-01 for washing machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Mingyu Jo, Dongwon Kim, Seungchul Park.
United States Patent |
9,957,656 |
Jo , et al. |
May 1, 2018 |
Washing machine
Abstract
A washing machine including a cabinet having a first
introduction port, a tub, which is provided in the cabinet and
which has a second introduction port that is concentrically
positioned with respect to the first introduction port, a cabinet
door attached to the cabinet to open and close the first
introduction port, a tub door attached to the tub to open and close
the second introduction port, and a lock-releasing unit, which is
attached to the cabinet to release a locked state of the cabinet
door and the tub door.
Inventors: |
Jo; Mingyu (Seoul,
KR), Park; Seungchul (Seoul, KR), Kim;
Dongwon (Seoul, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. (Seoul,
KR)
|
Family
ID: |
56923630 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/048,652 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20160273149 A1 |
Sep 22, 2016 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
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Mar 20, 2015 [KR] |
|
|
10-2015-0038752 |
Mar 20, 2015 [KR] |
|
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10-2015-0038753 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F
37/28 (20130101); D06F 34/20 (20200201); D06F
37/267 (20130101); D06F 39/14 (20130101); D06F
2105/44 (20200201) |
Current International
Class: |
D06F
37/28 (20060101); D06F 39/14 (20060101); D06F
37/22 (20060101); D06F 37/26 (20060101); D06F
39/12 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2360297 |
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Sep 2001 |
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GB |
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2006-280401 |
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Oct 2006 |
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JP |
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2010-51542 |
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Mar 2010 |
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JP |
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20-1995-0005184 |
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Jun 1995 |
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KR |
|
10-0452354 |
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Oct 2004 |
|
KR |
|
10-0534644 |
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Dec 2005 |
|
KR |
|
10-2007-0063998 |
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Jun 2007 |
|
KR |
|
10-2010-0070707 |
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Jun 2010 |
|
KR |
|
10-2010-0120046 |
|
Nov 2010 |
|
KR |
|
10-2011-0057920 |
|
Jun 2011 |
|
KR |
|
10-2012-0043263 |
|
May 2012 |
|
KR |
|
Primary Examiner: Perrin; Joseph L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dentons US LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet including a first
cabinet part having a first introduction port formed at a front
side thereof; a tub provided in the cabinet, and having a second
introduction port that is a concentric position with respect to the
first introduction port; a cabinet door attached to the cabinet to
rotate forward to open and close the first introduction port; a
cabinet door lock provided on the front cabinet part to set a lock
state of the cabinet door; a tub door attached to the tub to rotate
in a direction parallel to a rotation direction of the cabinet door
to open and close the second introduction port; a tub door lock
provided at a front side of the tub to set a lock state of the tub
door; a lock-releasing unit provided on the first cabinet part to
simultaneously unlock the cabinet door lock and the tub door lock;
a cabinet door lock releaser that is actuated by the lock-releasing
unit to unlock the cabinet door lock; and a tub door lock releaser
that is actuated by the lock-releasing unit to unlock the tub door
lock.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet
door comprises a first hinge unit having a first rotating shaft,
and the tub door comprises a second hinge unit having a second
rotating shaft that is spaced apart from the first rotating
shaft.
3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the tub door is
elastically biased in an opening direction of the second
introduction port.
4. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the tub door is opened
in conjunction with the cabinet door when the cabinet door is
opened.
5. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the tub door is closed
in conjunction with the cabinet door when the cabinet door is
closed.
6. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the cabinet door lock
comprises: a hook-engaging portion provided in a front cabinet part
of the cabinet; a hook insert portion coupled to the hook-engaging
portion in a manner of being movable in the direction in which
cabinet door is closed, an elastic support to elastically support
the hook insert portion in the direction opposite to the direction
of close of cabinet door.
7. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the lock-releasing unit
further comprises: a push button provided at the first cabinet part
for simultaneously operating the cabinet door lock releaser and the
tub door lock releaser.
8. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the cabinet door lock
releaser is provided at the cabinet, and the tub door lock releaser
is provided at the tub.
9. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the tub door is hingedly
attached to the tub, and the tub comprises a hinge unit to exert an
elastic force in an opening direction of the second introduction
port.
10. The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the tub door includes a
push roller provided on an outer surface of the tub door to push
against the cabinet door.
11. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the tub includes a tub
door lock to lock the tub door, and the tub door lock locks the tub
door by rotation of the cabinet door in a closing direction.
12. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein the cabinet comprises
a cabinet door lock to keep the cabinet door in a locked state, and
wherein the tub door lock locks the tub door after the cabinet door
is locked by the cabinet door lock.
13. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the cabinet door lock
moves the cabinet door so that the cabinet door is spaced apart
from the tub door after the tub door is locked.
14. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the cabinet door lock
is connected to the cabinet door lock releaser via a first tensile
cable, and tub door lock is connected to the tub door lock releaser
via a second tensile cable.
15. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the cabinet door lock
comprises: a hook-engaging portion attached to the cabinet to lock
the cabinet door; an elastic support that is elastically supported
by the hook-engaging portion in an opening direction of the cabinet
door; and a connector attached to the first tensile cable to unlock
the cabinet door.
16. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the tub door lock
comprises: a hook-engaging portion attached to the tub to lock the
tub door; and a connector attached to the second tensile cable to
unlock the tub door.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application
No. 10-2015-0038752 and 10-2015-0038753 filed on Mar. 20, 2015,
which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth
herein.
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Disclosure
The invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly
to a washing machine, which is provided with a door having an
improved structure to prevent or substantially reduce vibration and
noise generated in a tub from being transmitted to a case while the
washing machine is operating.
2. Discussion of the Conventional Art
Generally, a washing machine refers to an electrical household
appliance that removes contaminants from laundry by employing the
emulsification of detergent, rubbing action and impact action,
which are applied to the laundry by water stream generated by the
rotation of a pulsator or a drum, and the like.
A fully-automatic washing machine generally refers to a washing
machine that automatically performs a series of courses composed of
a washing course, a rinsing course, a dehydrating course and the
like, without the need for intervening manipulation by a user.
A drum washing machine generally refers to a washing machine that
has a reduced overall height compared to a pulsator washing
machine; however, during operation, the laundry becomes entangled
and a large number of wrinkles are generated.
The structure of a conventional drum washing machine 10, as
described above, will be briefly described with reference to the
accompanying drawing shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the
conventional washing machine 10 includes a cabinet 11, a tub 13,
which is supported inside the cabinet 11 by a damper (not shown)
and a spring (not shown) and which contains washing water, and a
cylindrical drum 15, which is provided inside the tub 13 to hold
laundry and which receives a driving force from the drive unit 17
for washing the laundry held in the drum 15. This washing machine
10 necessarily includes a gasket 19 located between the opening of
the tub 13 and the cabinet 11 to prevent washing water contained in
the tub 13 from leaking.
When the drum 15 rotates to wash and dehydrate the laundry held
therein, 0 generates vibrations attributable to the rotation of the
drum 15, eccentric disposition of laundry or the like, and the
vibrations generated by the rotation of the drum 15 are transmitted
to the outside through the tub 13 and the cabinet 11.
The vibrations and noise transmitted to the tub 13 are transmitted
to the cabinet 11 through the gasket 19 maintains a watertight
state between the cabinet 11 and the tub 13, which subjects the
cabinet 11 to vibrations and noise.
Additionally, in the conventional washing machine 10, laundry may
become caught between the door 12 for closing the tub 13 and the
drum 15. To prevent laundry from being caught between the door and
the drum, the door 12 is constructed such that the inner surface of
the door 12 projects toward the inside of the opening of the tub 13
or the drum 15. However, the projecting structure of the door 12
occupies part of the washing volume in the drum 15, thereby
reducing the washing capacity of washing machine 10.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
Accordingly, the invention relates to a washing machine that
substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and
disadvantages of the conventional art.
An object of the invention is to provide a washing machine having
an improved structure between a tub and a cabinet to prevent
vibration or noise generated in the tub from being transmitted to
the cabinet through a gasket.
Another object of the invention is to provide a washing machine
having an improved internal structure between a tub and a cabinet
to increase the capacity of the tub as compared to a conventional
washing machine.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention are
set forth in the description which follows and will become apparent
to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the
following description or may be learned from practice of the
invention.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a washing machine
includes a cabinet having a first introduction port; a tub provided
in the cabinet, the tub having a second introduction port that is
concentrically positioned with respect to the first introduction
port; a cabinet door attached to the cabinet to open and close the
first introduction port; a tub door attached to the tub to open and
close the second introduction port; and a lock-releasing unit
attached to the cabinet to unlock a locked state of the cabinet
door and the tub door.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a washing machine
includes a cabinet having a first introduction port; a tub provided
in the cabinet, the tub having a second introduction port that is
concentrically positioned with respect to the first introduction
port; a drum rotatably provided in the tub; a cabinet door attached
to the cabinet to open and close the first introduction port; a tub
door attached to the tub to open and close the second introduction
port; a cabinet door lock provided at the cabinet to lock the
cabinet door; a tub door lock provided at the tub to lock the tub
door; and a lock-releasing unit attached to the cabinet to unlock
the cabinet door and the tub door.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description
and the following detailed description of the invention are
exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further
explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 a schematic view showing a conventional washing machine;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a washing machine according to
an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the washing machine according
to an embodiment of the invention, in which respective doors are
opened;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an installation of the cabinet
door and the tub door according to an embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the installation of
the cabinet door and the tub door according to an embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the cabinet door of
the washing machine according to an embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a cabinet door lock
of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the tub and the tub door of
the washing machine according to an embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the tub door of the
washing machine according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a push roller of
the tub door of the washing machine according to an embodiment of
the invention;
FIG. 11 is a front view showing the locking unit of the washing
machine according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view showing the locking unit of the
washing machine according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 13 is a plan cross-sectional view showing the opened state of
the washing machine according to the invention; and
FIG. 14(a), FIG. 14(b) and FIG. 14(c) are each a plan
cross-sectional view sequentially that together show a locking
operation of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, a washing machine according to an embodiment of the
invention is described in detain with reference to the accompanying
drawings. Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same
or like parts.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a washing machine 1 according
to the an embodiment of invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view
showing the washing machine according to an embodiment of the
invention, in which respective doors are opened.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes a cabinet 100, a tub 200, which
is supported inside cabinet 100 by a suspension component such as a
damper and/or a spring and which holds washing water therein, a
drum 400 that is rotatably disposed inside tub 200 to hold laundry
therein, and a drive unit (not shown) to rotate drum 400.
Cabinet 100 may include a front cabinet part 110 defining or
delineating the front face of, right and left cabinet parts 130
defining or delineating the right and left faces of, and an upper
cabinet part 120 defining or delineating the upper face of. Front
cabinet part 110 is centrally provided with a first introduction
port 114 through which laundry is introduced into the containing
space in drum 400. First introduction port 114 is provided with a
cabinet door 160 for opening and closing first introduction port
114.
Washing machine 1 may include a control panel 112, which may be
provided over the first introduction port 114. The control panel
112 may include a manipulation part and a display part for
controlling and displaying the operation of washing machine 1.
Washing machine 1 is provided with a second introduction port 210
in the front of tub 200 so as to allow laundry, which has been
introduced in first introduction port 114, to enter drum 400
therethrough. Second introduction port 210 is provided with a tub
door 230 to open and close second introduction port 210.
Hereinafter, front cabinet part 110 and tub 200 are described in
detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an installation of cabinet
door 160 and tub door 230 according to an embodiment of the
invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the
installation of cabinet door 160 and the tub door 230 according to
an embodiment of the invention.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, front cabinet part 110 includes a
cabinet hinge mount 116, which is provided at a side of first
introduction port 114 and to which cabinet door 160 is hingedly
coupled. Front cabinet part 110 further includes a cabinet door
lock mount 118, which is provided at the another side of first
introduction port 114, which is opposite cabinet hinge mount 116,
so as to set the locked state of cabinet door 160.
Cabinet door lock 180 is mounted in cabinet door lock mount 118 so
as not to be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 100 through
front cabinet part 110.
A lock-releasing unit 140, which serves to release the locked state
of cabinet door lock 180 to control the locked state of front
cabinet part 110 and the locked state of tub door lock 260 to
control the locked state of tub door 230 (described later), is
provided at a lateral side of first introduction port 114.
Lock-releasing unit 140 is constructed to simultaneously release
the locked state of cabinet door lock 180 for locking cabinet door
160 and the locked state of tub door lock 260 for locking tub door
230.
Lock-releasing unit 140 may include a push button 142, which is
pushed by a user, a cabinet door lock releaser pusher 144, which is
moved by push button 142 to actuate a cabinet door lock releaser
150 (described later), and a tub door lock releaser pusher 146,
which is moved by push button 142 to actuate a tub door lock
releaser 220. Lock-releasing unit 140 will be described below in
more detail.
As shown in FIG. 6, cabinet door 160 is hingedly provided at first
introduction port 114 of front cabinet part 110. Cabinet door 160
may include a first outer frame 161, which defines or delineates
the outer face of cabinet door 160, and a first inner frame 164,
which defines or delineates the inner face of cabinet door 160.
First outer frame 161 and first inner frame 164 may be coupled
together by fastening members (not shown) such as bolts, and may be
made of a transparent material so that the internal operating
condition is visible.
The outer surface of cabinet door 160, which is an outer surface of
first outer frame 161, is preferably flush with the surface of
front cabinet part 110, and is provided at the inner surface
thereof with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 162 for increasing the
strength of first outer frame 161.
The inner surface of cabinet door 160, which is an outer surface of
first inner frame 164, is provided with a roller-contacting surface
165 with which push rollers 250 of tub door 230 come into
contact.
When cabinet door 160 is pushed and closed by a user,
roller-contacting surface 165 presses against push rollers 250 of
tub door 230 so as to cause tub door 230 and cabinet door 160 to be
closed together.
Cabinet door 160 is provided at one side thereof with first hinge
unit 168, which is mounted on cabinet hinge mount 116 provided at
the periphery of first introduction port 114 to hingedly support
cabinet door 160, and is provided at the other side thereof with a
cabinet door hook 175, which engages with cabinet door lock 180 to
keep cabinet door 160 in the locked state.
First outer frame 161 is provided with a projection 163 on which
first hinge unit 168 is mounted, and first inner frame 168 is
provided at an area corresponding to projection 163 of first outer
frame 161 with a projection 166.
First inner frame 164 is provided above and below projection 166
with a pair of recesses 167 into which upper and lower hinge rods
171 and 173 of first hinge unit 168 are received. Pair of recesses
167, which are provided above and below projection 166, are
respectively provided with a pair of brackets 176 for rotatably
supporting upper and lower rotating shafts 172 and 174 of first
hinge unit 168.
Projection 166, recesses 167 and brackets 176, which are provided
at first inner frame 168, are shielded by projection 163 provided
on first outer frame 161 from the outside when first outer frame
161 is coupled to first inner frame 168.
First hinge unit 168 includes a hinge body 169, which is coupled to
cabinet hinge mount 116 provided at the periphery of first
introduction port 114 of the front cabinet part 110, upper hinge
rod 171 and lower hinge rod 173 extending from upper and lower
portions of hinge body 169, and upper hinge shaft 172 and lower
hinge shaft 174, which respectively extend from upper hinge rod 171
and lower hinge rod 173.
Upper and lower hinge rods 171 and 173, which are provided at hinge
body 169 of first hinge unit 168, are preferably spaced apart from
each other by a predetermined spacing. In order to prevent upper
and lower hinge rods 171 and 173 from structurally interfering with
a second hinge unit 242 of tub door 230, upper and lower hinge rods
171 and 173 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined
spacing such that second hinge unit 242 is positioned between upper
and lower hinge rods 171 and 173.
Cabinet door lock 180, on which the of cabinet door 160 is inserted
and locked, is mounted on cabinet door lock mount 118, formed at
the other side of first introduction port 114, such that cabinet
door lock 180 is disposed inside front cabinet part 110. Cabinet
door lock releaser 150, which serves to release the locked state of
cabinet door lock 180 together with lock-releasing unit 140, is
disposed near first introduction port 114.
Cabinet door lock releaser 150, which is intended to transmit an
actuating force applied from lock-releasing unit 140 to cabinet
door lock 180 so as to release the locked state of cabinet door
lock 180, includes a rotator 152, which is pressed by cabinet door
lock releaser pusher 142 provided in lock-releasing unit 140 when
push button 142 of lock-releasing unit 140 is pushed, and a tensile
cable 154 for transmitting a rotational force of rotator 152 to
cabinet door lock 180 in response to rotation of rotator 152.
As shown in FIG. 7, cabinet door lock 180, which controls the
locked state of cabinet door 160 mounted on first introduction port
114, includes a hook-engaging portion 181 secured in cabinet door
lock mount 118 of front cabinet part 110, a cable connector 182,
which is disposed near the hook-engaging portion 181 and is
connected to the tensile cable 154 of cabinet door lock releaser
150, a hook insert portion 183, which is provided outside cabinet
door lock mount 118 and is coupled to hook-engaging portion 181
such that it is movable in a direction in which cabinet door hook
175 is inserted, and an elastic support 184 to elastically support
the hook insert portion 183 in a direction opposite to the
insertion direction of cabinet door hook 175 by an elastic element
such as a spring.
Cabinet door lock 180 further includes an allowance space to allow
hook insert portion 183 to be elastically supported by elastic
support 184 after cabinet door 160 engages with hook-engaging
portion 181 in the course of closing cabinet door 160. Accordingly,
after cabinet door 160 is pushed and thus locked on the
hook-engaging portion 181 of cabinet door lock 180, cabinet door
160 may be further pushed so as to cause tub door 230 to be closed.
The structure for the simultaneous operation of cabinet door 160
and tub door 230 will be described below.
Hereinafter, tub door 230 is described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 8 and 9.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing tub 200 and tub door 230 of
washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG.
9 is an exploded perspective view showing tub door 230 of washing
machine 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, tub 200 is provided in the front thereof
with second introduction port 210 for the insertion of laundry,
second introduction port 210 being separated from first
introduction port 114 of cabinet 100 and is concentrically
positioned with respect to first introduction port 114. Tub 200 is
provided with weight balancers 270, which are disposed radially
outside second introduction port 210 to increase the mass of tub
200 to prevent or reduce the vibrations of tub 200. Tub 20 is
provided at the periphery of second introduction port 210 with tub
door 230 for opening and closing second introduction port 210 of
tub 200, which is separate from cabinet 100.
Second introduction port 210, which is disposed at the front of tub
200, includes an annular rim 212, which protrudes toward front
cabinet part 110. Annular rim 212 is provided at one lateral side
thereof with a second hinge mount 214 on which second hinge unit
242 is mounted, and is provided at the other lateral side thereof
with a tub door lock mount 216 on which tub door lock 260, for
controlling the locked state of tub door 230, which is adapted to
open and close second introduction port 210, is mounted.
Tub 200 is provided at one lateral side in the front thereof with
the second hinge unit 242, which rotatably supports tub door 230
and enables tub door 230 to open and close second introduction port
210, and is provided at the other lateral side in the front thereof
with the tub door lock 260 for controlling the locked state of tub
door 230. Tub 200 is further provided at a position corresponding
to tub door lock releaser pusher 146 of lock release unit 140
disposed in cabinet 110 and above tub door lock 260 with tub door
lock releaser 220 for releasing the locked state of the tub door
lock 260.
Tub door 230, tub door lock 260, the tub door lock releaser 220 are
connected to cabinet 100, and tub 200 is supported by the
suspension (not shown), independent of cabinet 100.
Unlike conventional washing machine 1, since only the suspension is
disposed between tub 200 and cabinet 100, without gasket 9, and
vibrations of the tub 200 are transmitted only to the suspension,
it is possible to substantially reduce the transmission of
vibration from tub 200 to cabinet 100.
Tub door 230 includes a second outer frame 231, which generally
defines or delineates an outer face of tub door 230, an annular
second inner frame 235, which generally defines or delineates an
outer surface of tub door 230 and has a hole in the center thereof,
an annular ring sealer 241, which is disposed between second outer
frame 231 and second inner frame 235 to ensure a seal between
second introduction port 210 of tub 200 and tub door 230, and a
transparent frame 239, which is fitted in the hole in the center of
second inner frame 235 so that the interior of tub 200 or drum 400
is visible.
Second inner frame 235 is provided at a lateral side thereof with a
projection 236 to which second hinge unit 242 is coupled.
Projection 236 includes recesses 237 in which upper and lower hinge
rods 244 and 246 and a hinge spring 248 of second hinge unit 242
are received. Second inner frame 235 is provided at the other
lateral side, opposite second hinge unit 242, and includes a tub
door hook 249, which is fitted into the tub door lock 260 so as to
maintain the locked state of tub door 230.
Second outer frame 231 is provided at a lateral side thereof with a
projection 234 to cover projection 236 provided at second inner
frame 235, and is provided at predetermined areas on the outer
surface thereof with push rollers 250. The push rollers 250 contact
roller-contacting surface 165 of cabinet door 160 disposed outside
tub door 230 and push cabinet door 160 outward when tub door 230 is
rotated in the opening direction.
Push rollers 250 also prevent cabinet door 160 or tub door 230 from
being damaged due to friction between cabinet door 160 and tub door
230 when tub door 230 is opened by hinge spring 248 of second hinge
unit 242.
As shown in FIG. 11, each of push rollers 250 includes a mounting
base 251 fitted in a roller fitting portion 232 formed in second
outer frame 231 of tub door 230, a movable member 253, which is
movably coupled to mounting base 251 with a predetermined spacing
therebetween, and a roller 256, which is provided in movable member
253 and has a rotating shaft 257 parallel to the rotating shafts of
cabinet door 160 and tub door 230.
Mounting base 251 is provided at respective corners thereof with
protrusions 252 for limiting the distance that movable member 253
can move. Since movable member 253 interferes with the limiting
protrusions 252 of the mounting base 251, separation of movable
member 253 from mounting base 251 is prevented.
Springs 255 are disposed between mounting base 251 and movable
member 253 so that movable unit 253 is spaced apart from the
mounting base 251 by a predetermined elastic force. Movable member
253 has a roller hole 254 in which roller 256 is rotatably
mounted.
Accordingly, when tub door 230 is opened, push rollers 250 contact
roller-contacting surface 165 formed on first inner frame 164 of
cabinet door 160 and push out cabinet door 160 in the opening
direction, thereby opening cabinet door 160.
Meanwhile, second hinge unit 242 is mounted on second hinge mount
214, which is provided at a lateral side of rim 212 of second
introduction port 210 to rotatably support tub door 230 and to
provide an elastic force to bias the tub door 230 in the direction
in which second introduction port 210 is opened.
Second hinge unit 242 includes a hinge body 243 mounted on second
hinge mount 214, upper and lower hinge rods 244 and 246, extending
from upper and lower portions of hinge body 243, upper and lower
hinge shafts 245 and 247, which are respectively provided at the
ends of upper and lower hinge rods 244 and 246 and are rotatably
received in recesses 237 in second inner frame 235, and hinge
spring 248, which is disposed to have the same rotating axis as
upper and lower rotating shafts 245 and 247 and provides tub door
230 with elastic force to bias tub door 230 in the direction in
which tub door 230 is opened with respect to second introduction
port 210.
Upper and lower hinge rods 244 and 246 of second hinge unit 242 are
preferably configured to have therebetween a smaller spacing than
the spacing between upper and lower hinge rods 171 and 173 of first
hinge unit 168. First hinge unit 168 and second hinge unit 242
rotatably support cabinet door 160 and tub door 230 about different
rotating shafts. Accordingly, to prevent the rotating shafts of
first and second hinge units 168 and 242 from interfering with each
other, the axes of the rotating shafts of first and second hinge
units 168 and 242 are separated from and spaced apart from each
other.
Tub door lock mount 216, which is provided at the other lateral
side of second introduction port 210 of tub 200, is provided with
tub door lock 260, on which tub door hook 249 of tub door 230 is
fitted and locked. The door lock 216 is provided with tub door lock
releaser 220, which releases the locked state of tub door lock 260
in response to an actuation of lock-releasing unit 140.
Tub door lock releaser 220, which is intended to release the locked
state of tub door lock 260 by transmitting the actuating force,
applied to lock-releasing unit 140, to tub door lock 260, includes
a rotator 222, which is pressed by tub door lock releaser pusher
146 provided in lock-releasing unit 140 when push button 142 of
lock-releasing unit 140 is pressed, and a tensile cable 224 to
transmit the rotational force of rotator 222 to tub door lock 260
in response to rotation of rotator 222.
Tub door lock 260, which controls the locked state of tub door 230
and is mounted on second introduction port 210, includes
hook-engaging portion 181, mounted on tub door lock mount 216
proximate to second introduction port 210, and a cable connector
261, connected to tensile cable 224 of the tub door lock releaser
220 proximate to hook-engaging portion 181.
Hereinafter, the operation of the washing machine according to an
embodiment of the invention is described in detail with reference
to the accompanying drawings. The components mentioned below should
be understood in light of the above description and the
accompanying drawings.
According to an embodiment of the invention, cabinet door hook 175
of cabinet door 160 is locked on cabinet door lock 180, and the
locked state is maintained. Meanwhile, tub door hook 249 of tub
door 230 is locked on tub door lock 260, and the locked state is
maintained.
The operation of opening cabinet door 160 and tub door 230 is
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 11 is a front view showing the lock unit of washing machine 1
according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 12 is a rear
perspective view showing the lock unit of washing machine 1
according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 13 is a plan
cross-sectional view showing the opened state of washing machine 1
according to an embodiment of the invention.
For example, in order for a user to open cabinet door 160 of
washing machine 1, user pushes push button 142 of lock-releasing
unit 140 provided in front cabinet part 110. Consequently, cabinet
door lock releaser pusher 144 and tub door lock releaser pusher 146
of push button 142 push rotator 152 of cabinet door lock releaser
150 and rotator 222 of tub door lock releaser 220,
respectively.
Accordingly, as rotator 152 of cabinet door lock releaser 150 is
rotated, tensile cable 154 connected to rotator 152 of cabinet door
lock releaser 150 is pulled, and cable connector 182 of cabinet
door lock 180 is actuated by tensile cable 154 of cabinet door lock
releaser 150, thereby releasing the locked state in which cabinet
door hook 175 of cabinet door 160 engages with hook-engaging
portion 181 of cabinet door lock releaser 150.
As the locked state of cabinet door 160 is released, rotator 222 of
tub door lock releaser 220 is rotated, thereby pulling tensile
cable 224 connected to rotator 222 of tub door lock releaser 220.
Consequently, cable connector 261 of tub door lock 260 is actuated
by tensile cable 224 of tub door lock releaser 220, and the locked
state, in which tub door hook 249 of tub door 230 engages with
hook-engaging portion 181 of tub door lock releaser 220, is
released, thereby releasing the locked state of cabinet door 160
and tub door 230.
By the release of the locked state of cabinet door 160 and tub door
230, tub door 230 is rotated in the opening direction by hinge
spring 248 provided in second hinge unit 242 of tub door 230, and
push rollers 250, which are provided on second outer frame 231 of
tub door 230, push roller-contacting surface 165 provided on first
inner frame 168 of cabinet door 160 to open cabinet door 160,
thereby opening tub door 230 and cabinet door 160
simultaneously.
Hereinafter, the operation of closing cabinet door 160 and tub door
230 is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 14 is a plan cross-sectional view sequentially showing an
operation of locking the washing machine 1 according to an
embodiment of the invention.
As shown in the drawing, in the operation of closing cabinet door
160 and tub door 230, as the user rotates cabinet door 160 in
closing direction, roller-contacting surface 165 provided on the
first inner frame 168 of the cabinet door 160 contacts the push
rollers 250 provided on second outer frame 231 of tub door 230, and
cabinet door 160 and tub door 230 are thus rotated against the
elastic force of hinge spring 248 provided in second hinge unit 242
of tub door 230.
Referring to FIG. 14(a), for example, as cabinet door 160 and tub
door 230 are rotated, cabinet door hook 175 of cabinet door 160 is
inserted into cabinet door lock 180, and tub door hook 249 of tub
door 230 is simultaneously inserted into tub door lock 260.
Referring to FIG. 14(b), for example, when cabinet door hook 175 of
cabinet door 160 is inserted into cabinet door lock 180 by the
rotation of cabinet door 160, cabinet door hook 175 engages with
cabinet door lock 180 as a result of pressure caused by the
rotation of cabinet door 160. This occurs because hook insert
portion 183, into which cabinet door hook 175 is inserted, is
elastically supported by the springs. At this time, tub door 230
moves a distance corresponding to the distance that hook insert
portion 183 of cabinet door lock 180 moves, and then engages with
tub door lock 260.
Referring to FIG. 14(c), for example, when the pressure applied to
cabinet door 160 by the user is released, hook insert portion 183
of cabinet door lock 180 is restored to the normal position by the
elastic force of the springs supporting hook insert portion 183,
and cabinet door 160, engaging with the cabinet door lock 180, is
restored to the position spaced apart from tub door 230 by the
restoring force of hook insert portion 183, thereby completing the
operation of closing cabinet door 160 and tub door 230.
Accordingly, because cabinet door 160 and tub door 230 are spaced
apart from each other when they are closed, the direct transmission
of vibrations from tub 200 to cabinet 100 during the washing
operation is prevented.
As is apparent from the above description, according to embodiments
of the invention, the transmission of vibrations and noise from the
tub to the cabinet is prevented by improving the structure between
the tub and the cabinet, and vibrations and noise generated by the
cabinet are thus reduced. Therefore, unpleasant vibrations and
noise are prevented.
Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the invention, the
improved structure between the tub 200 and the cabinet 100
increases the capacity of the tub 200.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the
invention discussed herein without departing from the spirit or
scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the presently
disclosed invention cover the modifications and variations of this
invention provided they come within the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents.
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